NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: A prison in Muang district is being converted into a field hospital after 1,195 of the inmates tested positive for Covid-19 infection.
The Correctional Institution for Young Offenders, which houses adults, has about 2,500 prisoners and staff.
Provincial public health office chief Charaspong Sukkree said on Friday that mass testing had been conducted on all inmates and prison officials.
He said 1,195 inmates tested positive for Covid-19. No infections were found among prison staff.
“People should not panic about the number of infections predicted earlier.
"This correctional facility is a sealed place with no outsiders entering. Officials can control the spread of the disease," Dr Charaspong said.
"Provincial authorities have converted the facility for use as a field hospital, with all infected inmates being treated in line with the Public Health Ministry’s standards.
"This should ease any worries of relatives and nearby communities.’’
On Thursday, the provinical public health chief reported that a large Covid-19 cluster was found at the prison, with 64 inmates already testing positive and the number expected to soar.